Dressed to Impress: DIY Salad Dressings

Monday

Jul 14, 2014 at 12:01 AMJul 14, 2014 at 10:27 PM

Ditch the store-bought stuff and make your salad dressing from scratch.

Think your salad dressing is healthy? Think again. Many bottled salad dressings are loaded with sugar, sodium, and artificial ingredients and preservatives, effectively canceling out the wholesome goodness of your fresh veggies. The good news is that homemade dressing is surprisingly easy to make—and umpteen times tastier than the store-bought stuff. Jazz up your salad with these bright, flavorful DIY varieties, which will elevate even the simplest plate of greens from "blah" to memorable.
Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette
Cupcakes & Kale Chips’ sweet and tangy Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing pairs especially well with strawberries and goat cheese. Made with figs, balsamic, olive oil and Dijon, this dressing is naturally sweet and has a delightfully creamy, rich texture.
Fresh Raspberry Vinaigrette
We tend to get a little spoiled during the summer months, with seasonal fruit in abundance. This Fresh Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe from Rachel Cooks is made with only raspberries, olive oil and red wine vinegar. The healthiest recipes have the fewest ingredients, and this fruity dressing definitely falls in that category.
Italian Dressing
A classic Italian vinaigrette like Cook Eat Paleo’s Italian Dressing Recipe is a recipe must-have. It makes sense to commit a homemade version to memory rather than continually buying misleading vinaigrettes from the store that are loaded with sugar. Healthy spices like oregano, garlic and black pepper add tons of flavor for a zesty kick.
Lemon Vinaigrette
This Lemon Vinaigrette from Pick Fresh Foods is a light, summery dressing that will taste great by the pool and beat the bloat you would normally get from a high-carbohydrate, store-bought alternative. The vitamin C-rich lemon juice adds a burst of bioflavonoids and antioxidants.
Creamy Feta and Sun-Dried Tomato Dressing
A more filling and healthy salad is still easy to make, so don’t go straight for ranch or chipotle dressings at the grocery without first giving Mississippi Kitchen’s Creamy Feta and Sun-dried Tomato Dressing a try. This delicious recipe combines sun-dried tomatoes, feta, garlic and white vinegar for some serious zing. Add this dressing to sandwiches and wraps for a punch of flavor.
Zero Oil Salad Dressing
Instead of dousing your salad in a sugary, fatty dressing, whip up a batch of Healthfully Ever After’s low-fat Zero Oil Salad Dressing, which saves on calories by blending fresh vegetables with Dijon. Rich in fiber, this dressing will leave you full without the guilt.
Blueberry Pecan Balsamic Vinaigrette
The Blueberry Pecan Balsamic Vinaigrette from Lemons and Basil takes less than five minutes to prepare and will transform your salad from bland to full-bodied. The mix of tart fruit and nutty flavor from the pecans creates a unique flavor that is far more satisfactory than store-bought dressings made with preservatives, artificial flavors and thickening gums.
Spicy Chipotle Salad Dressing
If you love spicy food, then you have found your healthy match in An Unrefined Vegan's Spicy Chipotle Salad Dressing.This tangy, flavorful dressing stars some of the healthiest ingredients out there: apple cider vinegar, hemp seeds and nutritional yeast, to name a few.
This article originally appeared as on Spry Living